Ray, If I’m not mistaken, didn’t Wilhite’s also have an orange wm call Orange flesh tendersweet. I think I grew that maybe 8-10 yrs ago. Yup, found it in their catalog, no seed, just a mention in the description of Wilhite’s tendergold. These old Wilhite varieties need to be tracked down and saved, what incredible germplasm, such great melons! Is there a chance that you would save some of the orangeglo seed?
Chikn
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@Muddymess, figfest was awesome! Sorry you couldn’t come, I would have liked to have met you in person!
Dennis’s fig collection is amazing, he said he has ~850 potted trees, I’m guessing around 750 of which are figs. Every variety you can think of!!
He gave us a tour and we got to taste a good many. He was very kind to raffle off some of his best varieties, and I think everyone came home with some really nice ones. Seeing his collection is starting to put me in full-addict mode. I really don’t need any more figs though!!
Chikn,
I’ve grown tendersweet, and while it is a very good melon, IMHO I think Orangeglo and Gold Strike
are better tasting. The only draw back to Orangeglo is the rind is brittle and it can split, if mishandled.
That’s why you’ll never see it in the stores or farmers markets.
Ray, I know this is an old post but I just came across it on a search. It was really fun to see that you were singing the praises of Orange Glo back before me, and that is an excellent review of it. The thing about Orange Glo, to me -and I suspect to you now that I read this review- is that it has a flavor profile that goes beyond just being one of the sweetest watermelons I ever tasted. It is that (the sweetest), but it also has a really wonderful, different sort of taste from other watermelons, including other yellow/orange ones. I often call it a “fruity” taste but that is a very poor description that really does nothing to describe the unique flavor of this melon. But I don’t know how else to describe it. For other readers who haven’t tried Orange Glo, the flavor I’m describing is very subtle so don’t expect to taste some radically different flavor with this melon. Basically on first bite you’ll just think its a wonderfully sweet, typical watermelon. But when you really stop and think about it as you eat it, you will pick up on a taste that is wonderful and just slightly different from other melons. Or maybe you won’t taste anything other than a great watermelon flavor and sweetness- which isn’t a bad thing! 
One other thing, Ray. Your photo captures the one slight (and it is a very slight) problem that I have with quite a few of my Orange glo watermelons. They often get that crack in the middle just like in your photo, and sometimes it is much bigger. In fact, sometimes they end up with substantial “hollow” space near the middle. This is especially true if they are quite ripe or a little over-ripe. But its a minor concern and certainly doesn’t keep this from being my favorite watermelon.
You may have already addressed this somewhere, Ray, but have you grown Desert King, and if so, how does it stack up to Orangeglo for you? I’ve never grown DK but I’ve heard it is one of the best and I think you are one of the people who has said that in the past. Baker Creek was out of seeds this year or I’d have tried DK, but I’ll try next year,
I’m sorry to post twice before anyone else even had a chance, but after the post above I started reading this old thread (should have done it before my first post!) and I couldn’t even get through it before I was agreeing so strongly with a couple things you said that I just had to chime in, even if I am 10 months late!
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I bought my seeds from Baker Creek last year and, just exactly like you, I had terrible germination rates and even after replanting 2-3 times I had several hills with no sprouts at all. VERY FRUSTRATING. Clearly Baker Creek got some bad seeds last year. Since @Antmary said she bought from a “reutable company” and also had germination problems, I’m betting she got them from BK or a company that had the same supplier.
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I also just had to second your comments on determining ripeness. Just like you, I’ve found the dead tendril to be almost useless in determining ripeness. In fact, I don’t think any of the old-fashioned ways of knowing when to pick a watermelon work dependably on Orangeglo. Things like color of the belly, sound made when knocking on it, state of tendril, etc don’t apply. Over time, I’ve become pretty good at determining ripeness by examining the melon just as I am sure you have with your experience. But it is not something I could tell someone to look for. I bet you know what I mean. The rind gets a certain look or sheen (or lack of). It actually looses just a little bit of its shine. There is no way anyone else could go by this because it is way to subtle and its only from years of observations and trial and error that I’ve learned to use all the aforementioned ripeness indicators together to know when to pick, and I’m still a couple days late some times. Clearly you have even more expertise in watermelons so I bet you know what I mean.
I got my seeds from Baker Creek this year and had great germination almost 100%. I did plant the seed in the ground once the weather was warm, did not start them inside.
Kevin,
Thanks for the kind words. OG is a melon that is really like no other.
It’s in a class all by itself and I guess that is the only way to describe it.
I have not grown Dessert King, mainly because I’ve never read nor gotten
any feedback that was very positive. One tip on determining when OG
is ripe, is the under side will develop long orange streaks. That’s what
I usually look for.
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I’ll try that technique this year, Ray. And its nice to hear confirmation that it isn’t just me- that OG really is something special and far above other watermelons. In fact, I absolutely love LOVE LOVE giving them away because I always know the recipient is going to call and rave on and on about them. Its very fun to see or hear someone’s reaction when they try their first Orangeglo watermelon.
I was just certain that it was you who had recommended Desert King. Now that I know better, I’m not nearly as excited as when I thought it was your recommendation!
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You’d be surprised at how many people won’t even try a yellow
fleshed melon. I think it’s a psychological hang up about eating
a watermelon that isn’t red. Most of my family won’t touch them.
Just finished a really good store watermelon tonite - don’t know the variety
After all the folks recommending it, I am gonna grow some this year!
Interesting since I rate Orangeglo as about #5 or #6 of the varieties of watermelons I love to grow. My favorites include: Yellow Moon & Stars, Luscious Golden, and Ledmon. Honorable mention to Blacktail Mountain for short season climates and to Wibb for a main season intense red melon. Of the commercially available watermelons, I have long grown and enjoyed Jubilee and Congo.
If you want a few more really good watermelons that are a tad more demanding of good growing conditions, check out Halbert’s Honey, Honey Island, and Sand Mountain Sunshine.
I am a shameless shill for Sandhill Preservation. Glenn carries an excellent selection of old family heirlooms. FYI, I grew Yellow Moon & Stars for him this year so I know for sure he will be selling fresh seed.
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Yellow Moon and Stars, Black Tail Mountain, and Jubilee are also on my list. Thanks for the link, and suggestions!
I don’t know what good growing conditions would be, but the Georgia Rattlesnake we grew this year did awesome, giving us many melons over 40 lb, and probably close to 200 melons total.
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My order from Sandhill Preservation came in today.
My thanks to the shill.
Ledmon, Lucious Golden, Yellow Moon and Stars, Halbert’s Honey, and Sand Mountain Sunshine are all getting a place out there this year, as well as Orange Glo, and Black Tail Mountain (thanks to @cousinfloyd) Bradford (thanks to @MikeC) and a few other varieties too, Charlston Gray, Jubilee, and Dixie Queen. The kids are growing some Carolina Cross, with several boys kind of competing for who can grow the biggest one.
It won’t be a huge crop of any one variety, but with four or five 95 foot rows to plant, we should get to try 'em all. The next challenge will be deciding on a winner with a family of ten opinions. Dad trumps the rest will probably be the easiest way to settle that! 
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You are so very welcome.
Orangeglo watermelons are the best tasting melon I have ever eaten! My first year growing them I saved every seed they were so good! I put them in a plastic bag and into the fridge they went. For the last four years I didn’t feel like gardening due to the political scene in the white house. Anyway, after four years I tried to germinate about fifty seeds on a heat mat. I was simply amazed that they all germinated! Many different distributors sell orangeglo seeds. The Willhite seed company are responsible for developing this very special melon. Their seed stock is the one you want to get your seeds from. They are the best! Good Luck!
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edmclendon- welcome to this site. Lots of great information and helpful people.
Thank you posting about the Orangeglo watermelons. I will look for some seeds and try them out this year.
Again, welcome!
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I haven’t tried that one, but I did order seeds of Leelanau Sweetglo.
I’ll be extremely lucky if they ripen in time but I’m going to start seeds early this year and hope for the best.
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